John Haywood has recieved professional development funding through the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, supported by state tax dollars and federalfunding from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

I was borned and raised in the east Kentucky hills in a holler called Risner. The only thing I've ever been good at is drawing and playing music. My papaw was a coal miner and old regular baptist singer who told me he didn't want me to work in the mines. He told me to get a good education, so that's what I did, and that's pretty much how I ended up in Louisville. But now we're back in good ol' East KY. I make my living painting, teaching, and playin' some banjo. So I really can't complain.